Red Horse Beer’s returned after a four-year hiatus, crowning two emerging Filipino rock bands during its grand finals held Saturday at Paseo de Sta. Rosa in Laguna.
Batangas-based Daks Not Dead topped the LAKAS category for hardcore rock bands, while Cebu’s Interstate won the AKLAS division for alternative rock. Both bands received P500,000 cash prizes from Red Horse Beer.
The event marked the culmination of a year-long nationwide competition that began in 2024, with regional preliminaries determining the 12 finalists who competed for the titles.
Interstate bassist Mark Brian Nebril said the win came as a surprise, considering the strength of the competition.
“Hindi pa rin kami makapaniwala dahil ‘yung mga nakasabay namin na competitors, napakagagaling. Hindi talaga namin in-expect,” Nebril said.
He added that the band, composed of Ly Unabia on vocals, Christian Patultol on guitars, and Adrienne Batiquin on drums, committed to both mental and physical preparations.
“Kinailangan talaga ng disiplina at determinasyon,” he said.
Daks Not Dead credited their mentors—veteran bands tapped by Red Horse Beer—for helping them prepare for the finals.
“Malaki ang naitulong ng mga mentors namin. Lahat ng mga advice na binigay nila, sinunod lang namin para maging 100 percent todo ‘yung maipapakita namin sa entablado,” vocalist Mat Piamonte said.
Alongside bandmates Rudolf Aboloc on guitars, Ben Avelino on bass, and Ian Carreon on drums, Piamonte said the band plans to continue producing music.
“Ngayong nanalo na kami, tuloy-tuloy lang ang abante at pag-produce ng kanta. Sa lahat ng sumuporta sa amin, salamat. At salamat sa Pambansang Muziklaban at sa Red Horse Beer,” he added.
Thousands of rock fans gathered for the event, which also featured performances from local bands Wilabaliw, Chicosci, Greyhoundz, Razorback, and Dilaw. Former champions returned to the stage, including 2018 AKLAS Grand Champion Happy Three Friends and 2004 Grand Champion Mayonnaise, who closed the show.